All-American Series Adds Airborne Park

Airborne Park Speedway is the first addition to be announced for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series next season. (NASCAR Photo)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR and Airborne Park Speedway announced today that the historic New York short track next year will be part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series in 2014.

Airborne Park Speedway, a unique .4-mile paved oval, is operated by Jamie Atkins and Mike Perrotte. It is located in the northeastern corner of New York in Plattsburgh, near Lake Champlain.

The addition of Airborne Park increases the number of NASCAR-sanctioned weekly short tracks in the Empire State to five. The track hosts Saturday night racing and will be marking its 61st year of operation in 2014.

It is the first addition to be announced for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series next season.

“Airborne Park Speedway is a great addition to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series,” said Bob Duvall, NASCAR senior director, business development. “It’s an exciting facility for both fans and drivers. Airborne Park and our already-sanctioned Devil’s Bowl Speedway (in West Haven, Vt.) create the opportunity for a weekly two-night circuit.”

The two asphalt tracks are about an hour apart and share dirt track-style Modifieds as their NASCAR Division I. NASCAR-licensed Division I drivers are eligible to compete for NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championships and special awards at the track, state and national level.

Established in 1982, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series is NASCAR’s national championship program for weekly short track auto racing. More than 50 paved and dirt tracks throughout the United States and Canada participate.

Promoter Perrotte began his own racing career in Street Stocks at Airborne in 1973 and was the track’s 1986 dirt Modified division champion. He still drives a dirt Modified at regional dirt tracks on a part-time basis.

“NASCAR’s return to Airborne completes a full circle for us,” Perrotte said. “We’ve been talking with Bob Duvall about joining NASCAR for a couple of years. We’re finally in a perfect position to join the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.”